These 7 Tips Would Help You To Prep Up Your Gadgets As You Travel

An indispensable aspect of everyday life, gadgets are impossible to part with even when we are travelling. This is not only true for techies like me but for even those who are not that tech-concerned. My sister will anyday choose a paperback over Kindle edition when it comes to a good read but even she can't imagine her life without her tablet or mobile. You need your gadgets even more while you are traveling to update your status to your family members, to stay in touch with office and to access the apps for navigating through the foreign lanes. But before you board your flight, you should prep up your regular gadgets for a worry-free travel.

1. Back up your data

You must be traveling with your laptop where you store your everyday data and just imagine the disaster in case unfortunately something happens to it in the foreign land! Thus, it's smarter to get a backup for all the crucial data in your laptop, mobile or tablet before you board your flight.

2. Switch off the automatic data

There are 3G & 4G devices that tend to pick up the data automatically- regardless of your permission. Now, definitely, when you are abroad, the data prices would shoot up as per the standard rate of that country with you ending up with a hiked roaming bill as you reach home. But you can easily solve the problem by switching the automatic data off while you travel.

3. Set your data limit

Another great way to check the high data bill while traveling is to set restrictions on data limit usage. It will prevent you from getting overboard with your data budget. In case, you have to enhance the data limit in between your travel, you can anyday contact your service provider for an enhanced usage limit.

4. Travel apps that run offline

In this app-driven "smart" world, travel apps are a necessity for every traveler. But it's not possible to stay connected to internet always while you are holidaying. However, I have got hold of some excellent and truly functional travel apps for your mobile that even run offline. My 3 best recommendations would be-

Maps.Me

Maps are really important while you travel and this offline travel map app will offer details on all major tourist delights in your chosen location. Moreover, it offers data on practical spots as well such as pharmacies, street numbers, one-ways & public transit points.

Tripit

This is another good practical app that works offline and works as your dedicated P.A. with all your travel information ready- whenever you want it. It will take the user's email confirmation mails for flights, hotels, car rental & more and would turn all the data into an organized trip itinerary.

Spotify

Music is a must for any traveler and Spotify is my favorite music app whenever I am on holiday, courtesy its offline facility on premium account. The app will enable the user to save up till as many as 3,333 songs which you can happily tune in offline for a month.

5. Portable Wi-Fi router

No one can guarantee seamless internet access while traveling. Yes, free Wi-Fi is offered at large but the signals might not be strong always. Thus, I always travel with my portable Wi-Fi router so that I can stay connected to the internet whenever I want to, wherever I wish to. It's no less than a lifesaver when I have to check my urgent mails or need to catch up with an important client while in an alien land.

6. Secure your gadgets

Free Wi-Fi in your hotel or airport is no doubt cool but then again such facilities might creep in security issues for your mobile or tablet. The best way here is to arm up your gadgets with antivirus & security patches beforehand. You should also be careful about a robust password to thwart unwanted access to your devices. This will save you from data leakage and enormous roaming bills in case your phone unfortunately gets lost or stolen while you travel. "Use acronyms for your favorite places or songs for password. It should be of at least 8 characters packed with alpha-numeric combination & special characters", advised the director of operations from a leading cyber security firm.

7. Case-up

Traveling means lots of outdoor activities which can lead to sudden falls or splash on your gadgets. Get security cases and screen protectors for your devices to protect them during sudden drops and scratches. Invest in a good waterproof case, if you are on for a beach holiday.

Gadgets handy during travel makes life really convenient but mishandling or unmindful usage can prove to be risky and pricey. These tips here are inspired from real-life experiences- some are learnt from my own mistakes while some are gathered from precautions suggested by my smart travel buddies. Wish you a happy & stress-free journey.